Side Hustle Inspiration: 15 Popular Part-Time Businesses

As the Chief Side Hustler at SideHustleNation.com, I have the best job in the world. Each week I get to chat with amazing and inspiring part-time entrepreneurs and experiment with a variety of different business projects.

Recently, I asked more than 300 followers of the blog and podcast what they did to earn money outside of their traditional jobs, and these are the most popular side hustles they reported.

Full disclosure: one of the most popular responses was “I don’t have one yet.”

Let this list serve as your inspiration to get the creative juices flowing! Surely you can put one of these business ideas into action.

Which of these are you working on? Which could you start?

1. Freelancing

Freelancing took the number one spot, with writing, graphic design and web development among the most common services offered.

8. Software and App Development

To build your own software application or smartphone app, you’ll either need some technical know-how or some outsourcing fortitude — on top of a good idea.

Still, the appeal of a product with low-to-zero marginal cost is enough to draw many side hustlers down this path.

9. Coaching

These days there are coaches for everything, and people who demand peak performance from themselves hire life or business coaches to hold them accountable and make sure they stay focused in the right direction.

No gym shorts or whistle required.

10. Marketing Agency

Under this category, the specializations of social media, content marketing and search engine optimization came up quite a bit.

This is a way to sell your expertise and your service to help other companies gain more exposure online.

11. Teaching — Offline or Online

Relevant and useful information is always in-demand, especially if others want to know what you know.

14. Real Estate

The problem is it generally takes heaps of cash to get started and you might have to deal with property maintenance and problem tenants.

15. Network Marketing and Multi-Level Marketing

The allure of network marketing is understandable: sell someone else’s proven product, create a big downline, and sit back and cash the checks.

The reality may not be so rosy for most participants, but MLM eked into the Top 15.

Honorable Mentions

Among my favorites that didn’t make this list were a ventriloquist service, being Santa, officiating weddings, a snow plow service, and doing iPhone repairs.

If you’re looking for ways to earn extra cash, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities!

Nick Loper is the Chief Side Hustler at SideHustleNation.com, a growing resource and community for part-time entrepreneurs. On the top-rated Side Hustle Show podcast, Nick and his guests explore a different business idea each week.

Halloween is a great time to pick up seasonal jobs and side hustles that will help you make a little extra cash for your holiday shopping. Here are some of our favorite creative, spooky and fun ways to make money on the side. Which ones will you try?